Mustangs' Meekins motivated

SET TO STAMPEDECoach counting the days until practices, season back under way

TODD HVEEM, Chronicle Correspondent

Published
5:30 am CDT, Thursday, July 21, 2005

Westfield football coach Corby Meekins knows the Mustangs' ride to the 2004 state championship game was something of a fairy tale. He enjoyed the dream season, nonetheless.

"Last year's team was such a team," said Meekins, whose team finished 13-2 in his first year as head coach. "They were a tight group and they played the entire 48 minutes."

"We also continued to get better," said Meekins. "Offensively, we got better every week. Defensively, we started off hot, then leveled off. We had a bunch of injuries. We had several games with people out.

"But then we got everybody health. When we got everybody back in, we really took off. We were playing great on both sides of the ball for about six weeks. That is the key. You have to get better every week. If you can do that, you have a chance to do something special."

The Mustangs fell just short of their ultimate goal last season, losing to Tyler Lee in the Class 5A Division I title game.

The upcoming season may also prove to be special. Is a state championship a possibility?

"A lot of things have to happen," Meekins said. "But I think this year's team learned from last year's group. If they play as a team, stay together, make sure the chemistry is where it needs to be, well, they have a chance.

"Last year, we were the unknown. That is not the case this year, for sure. We know the district we play in and the schedule we play is going to be tough. We have to be ready to go every week. We are not going to sneak up on anybody this year."

The Mustangs graduated several three-year starters from last year's Region III-5A championship team. They do return a couple of top prospects in 6-foot-4, 215-pound quarterback Pierre Beasley and scatback Terrance Sweeney.

Beasley and Sweeney spent much of the summer playing pitch-and-catch during 7-on-7 tournaments. Westfield finished second in the Baytown Lee 7-on-7 event to qualify for last week's state tournament in College Station.

"We have had a good group in our summer conditioning program," Meekins said. "And we have had a good group playing 7-on-7.

"I like 7-on-7 from the standpoint it keeps the kids together. It gives them an organized chance to throw and catch the ball. And it lets them compete. Any time you can compete, that is always good."

Meekins said he spent most of spring training looking for players to fill the void from last year's seniors.

"We needed to find some guys who are ready to step into starting roles," he said. "We needed to find some depth across the board. I think we accomplished both of those things. Plus, we came out pretty healthy."

Westfield opens fall practice on Aug. 8. It will scrimmage Aldine on Aug. 20 and Klein on Aug. 25 before opening their season on Sept. 1 against Cypress Falls.

The Mustangs play Alief Taylor and Memorial in non-district.

"We don't have Converse Judson (in non-district) anymore," Meekins said. "But Memorial is plenty tough and we played Cy Falls in the regional finals last year. Our non-district schedule is very good."

Meekins said he expects the offense to carry the club in the early going.

"We are going to have to do a great job offensively at the beginning of the season," Meekins said. "It is a little bit like last year, only reversed. I knew the defense would have to carry us early last year.

"This year, we lost four three-year varsity starters who all went on to play college football. Defensively, we will grow as the season goes along."

Meekins said he expects to get every team's best game.

"It is not going to get any easier, that is for sure," he said. "Pretty much everybody in the district is going to be a brute. It is going to be tough. But we should be ready for district by the time non-district play is done."